Ronnie Valentine

Ronnie Valentine

Personal information
Born	(1957-11-27) November 27, 1957 (age 67) Norfolk, Virginia
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school	Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk, Virginia)
College	Old Dominion (1976–1980)
NBA draft	1980: 3rd round, 51st overall pick
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Playing career	1980–1987
Position	Power forward
Number	42
Career history
1980–1981	Denver Nuggets
1981–1982	Montana Golden Nuggets
1982–1983	A.P.U. Udine
1983–1985	Detroit Spirits
1985	Tampa Bay Thrillers
1985–1986	Baltimore Lightning
1986	Tampa Bay Stars
1987	Rhode Island Gulls
Career highlights and awards
CBA Most Valuable Player (1982) All-CBA First Team (1982)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Ronnie L. Valentine (born November 27, 1957) is an American former professional basketball player.

College

A 6'7" forward, Valentine attended Old Dominion University from 1976 to 1980. He set a school record with 2,204 points in his college career and scored ten points or more in 101 consecutive games. ^[1] His career high for the Old Dominion Monarchs was 44 points in a game against Tulane University during his sophomore year. As a senior in 1980, he led Old Dominion to their first appearance in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, where the team fell to UCLA. ^[2]

Professional career

After college, Valentine was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 51st pick of the 1980 NBA draft. He played 24 games for the Nuggets during the 1980–81 NBA season, scoring 84 points. ^[3] Valentine later played in the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League, ^[4] and in Italy. In 1982, he earned the CBA's MVP Award after averaging 32 points per game for the Montana Golden Nuggets. ^{[5] [6]} He also led the West team with 25 points in the 1982 CBA All-Star Game. ^[7] After his playing career ended, Valentine lived homeless on the streets of Miami for 27 years. ^[8]

Awards

Valentine was inducted into Old Dominion University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. ^[9]

References

1. Thomas R. Garrett, Clay Shampoe, and Paul Webb. Old Dominion University Men's Basketball . Arcadia Publishing, 2007. 60.
2. Ronnie Valentine Profile at Old Dominion Athletics. Retrieved on February 12, 2009.
3. "Ronnie Valentine Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
4. History of the United States Basketball League at APBR.org. Retrieved on February 12, 2009.
5. Randy Beard. "Thriller's top sub makes the most of his minutes". The Evening Independent. February 5, 1985. Retrieved on February 12, 2009.
6. "Ron Valentine minor league basketball statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
7. "Valentine leads West". Washington Post. January 31, 1982. Retrieved on February 12, 2009.
8. "ODU legend Ronnie Valentine disappeared among the homeless in Miami for decades. We set out to find him".
9. Old Dominion University Hall of Fame Members Archived 2006-08-05 at the Wayback Machine at Old Dominion Athletics. Retrieved on February 12, 2009.